SentrySafe Tax Time Review and #Giveaway

4:37 PM

Tax time is upon us, and as a freelancer who depends on multiple 1099's and my own bad attempts at record-keeping to get everything filed, I am certainly in need of a tax-time makeover! Ever since we had to evacuate our home this summer for a potential flooding emergency, I have been ever more mindful of making sure that my most important documents are kept safe. Investing in a waterproof and fire-safe filing system was on the top of the list!

I recently received a SentrySafe HD4100 Waterproof Fire-Safe File and a $25 Walmart gift card to create my own tax season survival kit. Here is what I came up with:

In addition to the safe, I recommend a some good pens. Black is the official color of legal documents, and I really love the Sharpie Pens. I also suggest having some sturdy file folders on hand; if you choose an assortment of colors, you don't have to rely on fancy labels to sort your files by category. Sticky notes can also come in handy if you want to make notations on your only copy of documents – they don't mark up your pages and can be removed easily.

While these are the most common items you should have on hand for your taxes (in addition to your tax software, of course), I think a special treat is also in order. It took me a little over 5 hours to do my taxes this year, and I managed to stay focused with the best coffee money could buy and some chocolate, as well. (It's OK to indulge during this often dreaded activity!)

Next year, I'm hoping my taxes are less complicated. I have my SentrySafe ready to go with all my important papers, and even if we end up having to leave again, I can grab my safe and go!

To learn more about the SentrySafe HD4100, which holds up to 40 hanging files, an in-lid organizational system, and privacy key lock (plus spare keys), visit the SentrySafe website at www.sentrysafe.com, or check out the safe at Walmart.com!

Wanna Win?We have one SentrySafe HD4100 and a $25 Walmart gift card for one lucky reader to create their own tax time survival kit! To be entered to win, just tell us what items you would include in your kit. You have until February 22nd at 11:59 pm CST to get your entries in, and winners will be randomly selected from all eligible entries. You may enter every day and we will pick one winner at random from all eligible entries. (Please answer the question for the first entry. Each entry after that can be "enter me.") This giveaway is open to U.S. residents ages 18+. See our full rules here.